Fuel-heater.



C. W. CUMMINGS. FUEL HEATER. APPLICATION FILED APR. a. I9I6.

1,251,185; Patented Dee. 25,1917.

s'IIIIIIIIIIII' III/f Za ,1,75 @t WITNESSES: INVENTOR CHARLES W. CUMMINGS, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'TO C. W. CUIVIMINGS COM, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

FUEL-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent. )Paftntedl Dec, 25, i191?.

Application led April 3, 191A Serial No. 88,526.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. CUM MINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of 'Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Heaters, of which the 'following is a specification.

This invention pertains to a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide means for heating the explosive mixture employed precedent to the passage of such mixture into the explosion chamber of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described particularly adapted for vaporizing low grade fuel oils, such as kerosene, distillate and the like, which may be inserted in'the intake manifold of the engine and heated by by# passing a portion of the exhaust gases. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts, and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of an internal combustion engine, showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the sand cores employed when casting 'the manifold shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the manifold, showing a modification of same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates the cylinder of an internal combustion engine and 2 the head for same; 3 indicates the exhaust manifold; 4C the intake manifold and 5 the carbureter of suitable construction connected therewith.

Thermanifold here shown is particularl constructed for application to Ford motors and is, therefore, substantially T-shaped as shown. k

The upper horizontal anni of the T-shaped manifold consists of an* outer and inner shell, such as indicated at 6 and 7, cast integral with relation to each other to form a central passage extending therethrough, as at 8 and an annular chamber 9 for the pasis a cross section on line 3 3 AV:lair-e of the gases, passmg from the carbureter to the inlet valves of the engine. The

the manifold and is provided with a coupling flanged as at 11 to permit a connection to be formed between the exhaust manifold 3 and the central passage 8. This is accom- 4plished in actual practice by drilling holes inner shell extends through'the ends 10 of nection between the central passage 8 and the l exhaust manifold. The vertical member 16 of the manifold forming the connection with the carbureter 5 is constructed in the usual manner and-,communicates with the annular chamber 9 formed between the inner and outer shells 6 and 7.

Formed integral with the outer shell is a pair of extensions 17 which connect with the inlet ports in the cylinder head. These extensions are provided with inner passages communicating with each end of the annular chamber 9 and thus form a communication between the annular chamber and the inlet valves through which the combustible gases may enter the cylinders.

The obj ectof the present invention as here A shown is to permit the use of low grade oils, such as kerosene, distillate and the like. Low grade fuel oils -of the character specified are not easily vaporized, and can as a rule not be successfully used in connection with the average gas engine, unless these are specially constructed and provided with carbureters for this purpose. This is, however, overcome by the present arrangement, as low grade oil is supplied to the carbureter indicated at 5 and passing through the vertical member 16, upon entering the annular chamber 9 will imme diately strike the inner shell 7 which is heated by a constant flow of exhaust gases passing therethrough. The smallest globules of oil which vunder ordinary circumstances would remain unvaporized, are in this instance turned to a gas when entering the heated annular chamber 9 or when striking any of the heated surfaces with which said chamber is provided. A perfect vaporization of the combustible mixture is thus obtained without employing a special carbureter or materially altering the design of the engine.

For the purpose of amore even distribution of the heat created by the passage of the exhaust gases through the cen-v tral passage 8, a plurality of heat conducting pins 18 have been provided. These pins are formed during the molding operation, by either inserting short wire sections in the core or by forming a number of holes 19 in the core 20, shown in Fig. 2. The metal when poured will thus not only form the outer and inner shells 6 and 7, but will also ow `through the openings 19 to form the connecting pins shown at 18. These pins not only servethe purpose of conducting a portion of the heat from the inner shell to the outer shell, but in themselves form heated surfaces against which the gases impinge during their passage through the annular chamber to the inlet valves. The gas body passing through the annular chamber is, therefore, evenly heated, as the heat conducting pins 18 may be staggered in every direction possible, causing as much swirling ofthe gases as possible, thus producing a uniform temperature and a perfect vaporization.

In Fig. 4 a modification of the structure described in Fig. l is shown, the only difference in the two structures is the formation of a plurality of heat conducting ribs 25. These take the place of the pins indicated at 18 and to all intents and purposes. produce the same action as far as agitating and evenly heating the`gases passing through the annular chamber is concerned.

The device as a whole is simple and sub stantial in construction and if constructed as here shown may replace the manifold which is usually employed upon Ford engines. No change is, therefore, necessa when installing the device here shown, as 1t is only necessary to remove the old manifold and replace it with the device here shown. l

The materials and finish of the several parts of the manifold may otherwise be such scope of the appended claims and that I do lnot Wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1.- A fuel heater adapted to be substituted for internal combustion engine intake manifolds of the T-type composed of an inner shell the ends of which' are Hanged outwardly, an outer shell integral with the inner shell and havin its ends engaged over. the inner shell at pomts between the flanged ends of said inner shell, an inlet for the outer shell at substantially the center of the length of the latter formed for connection with the carbureter, outlets for the outer shell located at the ends thereof, and formed for connection with the cylinder inlet ports,

couplings having flanges at one end for bolted securement to the flanged ends of the inner shell, and means whereby to secure the other ends' of the couplings to the exhaust manifold.

2. A fuel heater adapted to be substituted for internal combustion engine intake manifolds of the T-type consisting of an inner shell the ends of which are flanged outwardly, an outer shell integral with the inner shell and having its ends engaged over the inner shell at polnts between the flanged ends of said inner shell, an inlet for the outer shell at substantially the center of the length of the latter formed for connection with the carbureter, outlets for the outer shell located at the ends thereof and formed for connection with the cylinder inlet ports, couplings having flanges at one' end for bolted securementto the flanged ends of the inner shell, the other ends of said couplings being adapted to be received in holes provided therefore in the exhaust manifold and brazed to the latter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, CHARLES W. CUMMINGS. Witnesses:

J. W. DIGNAN, FLoY CRANE. 

